Benjamin Nygren came off the bench and got Celtic level, before Daizen Maeda scored a dramatic stoppage time winner. The Sweden international spoke to the media at Celtic Park after the match and talked about the song he loves to hear at Paradise…
Was it pleasing to get the win so dramatically?
Benjamin Nygren: “Yeah, very nice. It was a difficult game today, but I think we really showed a lot of mentality and heart in the second half to chase the win and in the end we got it.”
Q: It’s maybe a period when there are a lot of new players and maybe they haven’t got up to speed yet, but was today about character, getting the result today?
Benjamin Nygren: “Yeah, I think we really showed character, and we stuck together as a team. We do that always, and I think we really showed a really good team mentality today.”
Q: Does it feel like that could be a big turning point in the season? It’s obviously been a difficult period over the past few weeks…
Benjamin Nygren: “Yeah, of course. I think we haven’t come up to our top level yet, so of course we need to use this as a springboard or whatever.”
Q: Did you always feel as though a chance would come for your goal because of the way Motherwell were trying to play out?
Benjamin Nygren: “Yeah, like I said, when myself and the other ones came in, we said we need to go for a goal every time now. We need to chase the goals because we were down 2-1, and I think we did so immediately when we came on. We took over the game and created chances and then the goals.”
Scottish Premiership
CELTIC…3 MOTHERWELL…2
(Iheanacho 28, Nygren 69, Maeda 90+3) 🍀🍀 pic.twitter.com/7exov8soVu— Willie Collow (@CollowWillie) October 6, 2025
Q: Because the goalkeeper made a great save from you just before you scored?
Benjamin Nygren: “Yeah, it was a good save.”
Q: Did it feel like an important victory given the context of the season? I know it’s only October, but in terms of the gap at the top, was it an important victory for you guys in the context?
Benjamin Nygren: “To be honest, I haven’t checked the table too much. It’s a long season, and the focus is on ourselves. We need to put in strong performances, and then we will be at the top.”
Q: How pleased were you for Daizen Maeda at the end to get the win?
Benjamin Nygren: “I was very, very pleased. I’m so happy for him and for the whole team and for all of the fans. I love to hear that song!”
Q: Did you think the fans were sticking with you even when you were behind?
Benjamin Nygren: “The fans are behind the team. We really felt that they were with us the last 30 minutes today when we were chasing, and it really helps.”
🇸🇪⚽️ Nygren pounced to bring the Bhoys level before a big push for the winner!#CELMOT | #CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/YH4dUlQtzj
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) October 5, 2025
Q: Michel-Ange Balikwisha played the ball in for the winner as well. It was a big moment for him that the players went to him as well because obviously it’s hard being in such a big club and trying to hit the ground running?
Benjamin Nygren: “Yeah, I was also running to him. I was happy for him that he made a great pass to Daizen so we win the game. Every player in the team is important, so I’m very happy for him.”
Appreciation Tweet For Michel-Ange Balikwisha.🍀 pic.twitter.com/gdNxgaPEtg
— Declan Blair (@DeclanBlair1967) October 6, 2025
Q: Benjamin, do you feel the team can really kick on now once you get back from the international break?
Benjamin Nygren: “We need to use this now, and we need to keep on going now. It’s an international break, but when we come back we need to build on this to really come up to our top level.”
Watch Benjamin Nygren’s post-match media conference below….
Here’s how Sandman rated the players in yesterday’s 3-2 win over Motherwell…
Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic v Gerogeorwell
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan
THE FRIENDLY GHOST – 7/10 – The goalie who shouldn’t be there – well, he is a ghost – makes a classic Schmeichel flailing-arm stop to keep us square and shut up the doubters, this one included. Takes a big character to reset the ‘keeping heid and go again after a bad one like Thursday but he’s got that in abundance right through the genes and we saw it today as he voiced his encouragement to drive a struggling team back into the game and on to a great win.
TONY THE TIGER – 6/10 – There’s a bit of a rumble in the jungle, so throw in The Brickie. What you’ll get is 100% and more if he can find it. What you won’t get is consistent finesse, as clear when a heavy touch compounded our slackness and led to their equaliser. But when the chips were crashing to the table and the clock was bleeding fast, you get incessant Ralston on the wing looking for killer balls/supporting. You won’t lose a game for want of Tony’s input.
SCRATCHY – 6/10 – He’s a bit mad mental – the mad was some fine attacking contributions, the mental defensive errors out of the blue, saved by Kasper once, but no stopping the penalty Scratchy conceded with a clumsy stamp. He’s more positive than negative at this stage; need to maintain that ratio lest we see yet another erratic full-back sell the jerseys too many times.
OF JUSTICE – 7.5/10 MOTM – This is how it’s done, by the way, Playstation FIFA virgins: let’s explain in the Americanised lingo you crazy kids are so fond of – Play Of The Day goes to the Celtic’s Defensive Endbacker Liam, ‘The Ginger Baresi’ Scales. Shout it through a mic with echo if it makes you feel a bit more WWF…You won’t see a better-timed goal-saving sliding tackle this season or any other, probably; Exemplary defending, the physical prowess and the mental sharpness to get there and cover. Maintained his command for the remainder of the game, frequently supporting attack with sensible layoffs, and positioning to contain their troublesome athleticism on the counter. Haters, sit this one out.
GET CARTER – 7/10 – Good to see him get his hands full of rangy big opponents and come out scrapping and winning. A lot of physical battles keeps him tuned, I reckon, making for a solid display and a learning experience; occupied for the full match, put in a good one.
